Fretboard for stringed musical instrument

Abstract

A fretboard for a stringed musical instrument, the musical instrument, and a method of manufacturing the fretboard. A unitary body serves as the fretboard and lies underneath a plurality of tensioned strings, extending in a longitudinal direction. The unitary body is elongated in the longitudinal direction. The unitary body includes a plurality of ridges extending transverse to the longitudinal direction and arranged in succession in the longitudinal direction to define separate frets. Each ridge is associated with a plurality of notes corresponding to the plurality of strings and is composed of a plurality of ridge segments corresponding to the plurality of strings. The plurality of ridge segments are disposed adjacent to each other and are shaped relative to each other to correct intonation of the plurality of notes. The method of manufacturing includes forming the plurality of ridges in unitary construction with the unitary body.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A fretted, stringed musical instrument, comprising:
 a plurality of strings that extend in a longitudinal direction and are tensioned; and 
 a fretboard underneath the plurality of strings comprising an elongate unitary body having unitarily constructed thereon a plurality of ridges extending transverse to the longitudinal direction and arranged in succession in the longitudinal direction to define separate frets, each ridge associated with a plurality of notes corresponding to the plurality of strings and being composed of a plurality of ridge segments, each ridge segment corresponding to a string of the plurality of strings, the plurality of ridge segments disposed adjacent to each other and each ridge segment being shaped relative to adjacent ridge segments to provide a desired intonation of a corresponding string as said string is depressed onto said ridge segment and plucked, to improve musicality of the instrument, wherein a first ridge segment of a ridge of the plurality of ridges is shaped to extend away from a second ridge segment of the ridge in the longitudinal direction to correct a frequency associated with a string extending above the first ridge segment to match a predetermined frequency. 
 
     
     
       2. The musical instrument of  claim 1 , wherein each ridge of the plurality of ridges extends curvedly and continuously under the plurality of strings. 
     
     
       3. The musical instrument of  claim 2 , wherein each ridge of the plurality of ridges curves in the longitudinal direction to vary a plurality of frequencies associated with depression of the plurality of strings on to the ridge. 
     
     
       4. The musical instrument of  claim 1 , wherein a first ridge segment of a ridge is shaped to extend away from a second ridge segment in the longitudinal direction to correct a frequency associated with a string extending above the first ridge segment to match a predetermined frequency. 
     
     
       5. The musical instrument of  claim 1 , wherein a ridge segment of the plurality of ridge segments is shaped based on a first parameter and a second parameter, the first parameter being indicative of stiffness of a string extending above the ridge segment, and the second parameter being indicative of mass moment of inertia of the string. 
     
     
       6. The musical instrument of  claim 1 , wherein a ridge segment of the plurality of ridge segments lying underneath a string of the plurality of strings is shaped to compensate for an anticipated change in tension of the string from a resting position of the string to a depressed position of the string to improve musicality. 
     
     
       7. The musical instrument of  claim 1 , wherein a first ridge segment of the plurality of ridge segments is raised above a second ridge segment of the plurality of ridge segments to vary a first action height associated with the first ridge segment relative to a second action height associated with the second ridge segment. 
     
     
       8. The musical instrument of  claim 1 , further comprising a bridge, wherein the unitary body abruptly descends away from each ridge of the plurality of ridges in the longitudinal direction towards the bridge so as to mitigate depression of each string of the plurality of strings against corresponding portions of the unitary body adjacent to the plurality of ridges and extending from the plurality of ridges towards the bridge, during use of the musical instrument. 
     
     
       9. The musical instrument of  claim 1 , further comprising a bridge, wherein the unitary body tapers asymmetrically about each ridge of the plurality of ridges to prevent depression of a string of the plurality of strings on to the unitary body between the bridge and the ridge while allowing depression of the string on to the unitary body adjacent to the ridge away from the bridge, when the string is depressed against the ridge. 
     
     
       10. A fretboard adapted to be fitted to a neck of a stringed musical instrument having a plurality of strings extending in a longitudinal direction and that are tensioned, the fretboard comprising a unitary body elongated in the longitudinal direction and being mountable on the musical instrument underneath the plurality of strings, the unitary body including constructed unitarily thereon a plurality of ridges extending transverse to the longitudinal direction and arranged in succession in the longitudinal direction to define separate frets, each ridge associated with a plurality of notes corresponding to the plurality of strings, each ridge being composed of a plurality of ridge segments, each ridge segment corresponding to a string of the plurality of strings, the plurality of ridge segments disposed adjacent to each other and each ridge segment being shaped relative to adjacent ridge segments to provide a desired intonation of a corresponding string as said string is depressed onto said ridge segment and plucked to improve musicality of the instrument, wherein a first ridge segment of a ridge of the plurality of ridges is shaped to extend away from a second ridge segment of the ridge in the longitudinal direction to correct a frequency associated with a string extending above the first ridge segment to match a predetermined frequency. 
     
     
       11. The fretboard of  claim 10 , wherein each ridge of the plurality of ridges extends curvedly and continuously in the longitudinal direction to vary a plurality of frequencies associated with depression of the plurality of strings on to the ridge. 
     
     
       12. The fretboard of  claim 10 , wherein a first ridge segment of a ridge is shaped to extend away from a second ridge segment in the longitudinal direction to correct a frequency associated with a string extending above the first ridge segment to match a predetermined frequency. 
     
     
       13. The fretboard of  claim 10 , wherein a ridge segment of the plurality of ridge segments is shaped based on a first parameter and a second parameter, the first parameter being indicative of stiffness of a string extending above the ridge segment, and the second parameter being indicative of mass moment of inertia of the string. 
     
     
       14. The fretboard of  claim 10 , wherein a first ridge segment of the plurality of ridge segments is raised above a second ridge segment of the plurality of ridge segments to vary a first action height associated with the first ridge segment relative to a second action height associated with the second ridge segment. 
     
     
       15. The fretboard of  claim 10 , wherein the unitary body abruptly descends away from each ridge of the plurality of ridges in the longitudinal direction towards a bridge of the musical instrument so as to mitigate depression of each string of the plurality of strings against corresponding portions of the unitary body adjacent to the plurality of ridges and extending from the plurality of ridges towards the bridge, during use of the musical instrument. 
     
     
       16. The fretboard of  claim 10 , wherein the unitary body tapers asymmetrically about each ridge of the plurality of ridges to prevent depression of a string of the plurality of strings on to the unitary body between a bridge of the musical instrument and the ridge while allowing depression of the string on to the unitary body adjacent to the ridge away from the bridge, when the string is depressed against the ridge.